The Washington critic., 1887-12-08
WASHINGTON, DEC. s, 1857.
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION.

THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION.
The I'LL which Senator Palmer of
Michigan will Introduce in the Senate,
providing for the regulation and restric-
ton OF Immigration to the United States,
il in y ,irec. line, or rather is the out
growth of public sentiment, favorable
TO dis. ilct:vc national or native preser-
va'iol;, and is a precursor of more ex-
tended legislation in q field which has
been too long neglected.
From the very beginning of the Re-
public tho native sentiment was strong,
hut the necessities of our carly growth
and development would not allow the
sentiment to matcrialze into action, and
our doors were flung wide open to the
world and the invitation "come one,
come ALL" sent abroad to every quarter
of the Garth. And that invitation was
accepted as 10 other had been, and in II
period previously unchronicled in his
tory our country had grown into one of
the great nations OF the earth.
Cosmopolitan in character it combined
the best elements of all nations, and its
progress has been the modern wonder
and the greatest of them all.
But times changed and opportunities
lessened, and while immigration in
creased, the classes composing ii showed
symptoms of deterioration, and u general
feeling supervened that our country
instead of retaining its American char
acteristics intact was becoming more or
less of nondescript, sort of every
man's-land, existing merely for the
pecuniary benefit Of those who were
unable to succeed under old institutions
and the more rigorous laws of the East.
In 1858 the American or Know-Nothing
party took form, but its principles were
characterized by such un-Americen
radicalism and bigotry that its con-
tinuance was dissolved within few
years. But the sentiment did not die
with the party. 1t resolved itself into
an instinct Of self-preservation-an
apprehension of danger-that without
assuming the shape of a well-defned
policy has exhibited itself at times
for the last thirty years in the pro-
nouncements of the public press, and
occasionally in spasmodic legislation
affecting the subject.
This legislation, under the blighting
effect of the neutrality-suspicious. fear of
impairing his popularity with the large
foreign element. attained for the most
part only stunted, Intellectual growth,
until within more recent period. Now,
however, with our earlier foreign immi-
grants thoroughlynaturalized and nation
a',ac,i, We ird even in them hearty ex-
poncnts Of the native idea, and our law
makers, many of them of foreign birth,
are becoming sufficiently courageous to
follow leader against til, indiscrimi-
nate importation OF Immigrants. 1t is
universally felt, and by none more
kcenly than by our naturalize1 citizens
of the loyal, industrious, publ!c-spiritca
clas,, that some barrier must be erected
TO the destructive influences OF elements
not in sympathy with the republican
institutions OF the country.
The Govcrlmen. of the United States
Ia the most liberal and tolerant ON the
face OF the earth. II is based upon the
broad principle of kinship in liberty,
ani 10 The needy everywhere, TO the or.
pressed Struggling fer delivery from deg
potism, j, extends Il hearty welcome
Al. 1 opea hand, bat We must have care
that H., scrluiiy and permanence of gu,
existence as u nation is in nowise inn
rahod.
A;ner.s, is not public asylum, no
a1 i!msl.cuce, nor Il reformatory 70
criminals. We need helpers in th,
great cause OF political enlightenment
and progress, but we must insist upon eX
crcising some little Judgment OF our owl
~, to The character and responsibility o
those who avail themselves of our hos
pitaiity.
Senator Palmer's bill is wholcaom,
movement in the right direction. !
provides for u system of certiflcatlon an,
that mo certificate shall be granted I
any convict except those convicted O
political oifenses, nor TO any lunatit
idiot, or any person unable to take car
of himself or herself without becomin
public charge, nor to any Anarchist
Nihilist, nor any person hostile to tn
principles OF the Constitution or form Q
government OF the United States"
Congress can well afford to give thi
subject serious attention. The time Ia
come when we must decide whether W
are ourselves or somebody else.
PROFESSOR BoYEsEN, in his address b,
foro the Christian Conference at I'll